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After a protracted six-year legal process, Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu has sentenced two customs officers, Akmen Karim and Mary Banya, to six years in prison or the option to pay a fine of NLe 60,000 each, following their conviction on two counts of corruption under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008.
The long-running case, which began in 2019, involved charges of soliciting and accepting an advantage, highlighting the challenges of prosecuting corruption in Sierra Leone’s public institutions. The Anti-Corruption prosecutor, Joel Tijan Deen Tarawally, emphasized the significant resources the state invested in pursuing the case.
“From the outset, the convicts denied the charges, leading to a six-year-long trial that cost the state considerable resources and court time,” Tarawally stated. He called on the court to ensure accountability, stressing that public officials must face the consequences of corrupt practices.
Justice Allieu, in handing down the sentence, acknowledged the convicts’ pleas for mercy and mitigation, but underscored that the seriousness of corruption offences cannot be measured by the amount of money involved. “It is not the amount, but the offences committed that matter,” he said, adding that the sentence is intended to deter future offenders and reduce corruption nationwide.
In contrast, another customs officer, Momodu Allieu Sowe, was acquitted and discharged after being found not guilty of soliciting and accepting an advantage, highlighting the judiciary’s commitment to fair and evidence-based trials.
The case serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption framework, where lengthy investigations and trials can strain public resources but are necessary to uphold accountability and the rule of law.
